Capsule machine



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSh.eet 1.

G. OTTO.

CAPSULE MACHINE.

fnrelzlar 4m; 0x5 5 A, W

Patented June 3, 1884.

4 Sheets-7-Sheet 2.

G. OTTO.

CAPSULE MACHINE.

(No Model.)

Patnted June 3, 1884.

N, Pawns mmum her. Washinglom n c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet s.

G. OTTO.

CAPSULE MACHINE. No. 299,936. Patented June 3, 1884.

% 9. 52% Mm 0d;

N. PETERS. Pnawlima nnhen Washington, It:v c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

G. OTTO.

GAPSULE MACHINE.

Patented June 3, 1884.

IiZZnesses N. PETERS. Puma-Lithographer. wnhingtm D12.

Nrr n STATES PATENT QFFICE-O GUSTA Y OTTO, OF JERSEY CITY, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT H. MOCUTCI-IEON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAPSULE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,936, dated June 3, 1884. Application filed March 13, 1884. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GUSTAV OTTO, a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improved Machine for Making Capsules, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

them to .proper lengths, and, finally, means for detaching them from the spindles. Although in the accompanying drawings these several means are shown as detached devices, yet in the manufacture of capsules they constitute practically one machine.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the mechanism employed for oiling the spindles. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a'vertical cross-sectioh, on an enlarged scale, taken on the plane of the line 0 0, Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a side elevation of the mechanism for cutting the capsules; Fig. 5, a top view of the same; Fig. 6, a vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the plane of the line is, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top view of the spindle-frame employed in this apparatus, showing it with the capsules on the ends of the spindles. Fig.8 is a similar view of said spindle-frame without the capsules. Fig. 9 is avertical crosssection, on an enlarged scale, taken on the plane of the line 0 70, Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a series of spindle-frames, showing them strung on a rod for dipping. Fig. 11 is a side view, partly in section, of the capsule-stripping mechanism; Fig. 12, a top view of the same; Fig. 13, a front elevation of the same.

I will first describe the spindle-carrying frames 13, which are shown more clearly in fixed to it, so that by its means the spindle may be revolved. These enlargements d have, by preference, circumferential grooves, which are marked 1 2 3 in Figs. 7 and 8, for the purpose of guidance on the oiling and cutting frames, as hereinafter more fully stated. It will be seen that these little frames 13 B, having the swiveled spindles A A, are very easily handled. They may be strung upon a stick, C, as in Fig. 10, for dipping purposes, may be easily suspended from suitable hooks or devices for drying purposes, and, because of the peculiar construction of the swivcled spindles A with the enlargements d, the said frames are readily ranged for continuous operation of the oiling and cutting devices. Before the ends of the spindles A A can be dipped in the gelatine-mixture they should be oiled, in order to prevent too close adhesion of the gelatine to the bodies of the spindles. For this purpose the oiling mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 has been devised. This mechanism consists of a frame, D, carrying the parallel shafts E E, which in turn carry pulleys 6, around which is placed the endless belt F. The said belt is held taut by asuitable fricti0n-roller, f, or otherwise, and passes beneath series of little rollers 9, that are hung in a frame, h,which is capable of verticaladjustment on posts 2', and pressed downward on said posts by springs j. Fig. 3 shows clearly the belt F beneath one of these rollers g, and the springs j above the frame h.

Directly below the place where the rollers g are thus ranged the frame D carries a pair of parallel rails, 70, and also parallel thereto a pair of platforms, Z, that have on their outer sides vertical flanges m, as shown in Fig. 3.

To the inner sides of these flanges m are fastlike, which is on the platforms Z, and which,

moreover, is or may be pressed against the ends of said spindles by the springs n. The frames B B are guided in their longitudinal motion by means of the rails entering grooves 1 and 8, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3; but instead of said grooves being in the enlargements d of the spindles there may be analogous projections bearing against the sides of the rails. The springs j can be compressed by thumbhuts above them, so that the-pressure of the belt upon the traveling framesB B may be regulated. The attendant pushes one frame B after the other into this machine, and so soon as it issues from the machine the ends of all the spindles A A will have been properly oiled. It will be seen that the spindles A A while passing over the rails 70 are revolved, thus exposing them properly to contact with the oiled cotton or the like, and preventing any part of the mold portion of each spindle remaining dry. The spindles having been properly oiled, the frames B may then be strung upon the rod 0 in the manner shown in Fig. 10. The ends of the spindles are then 'dipped'into the gelatine, and the frames are then hung up to let the gelatine dry. The frames now appear in the condition shown in Fig. 7that is, with the gelatine-cups 0 covering the ends of the spindles A. They are now ready for the cutting mechanism, which is shown in Figs. 4, 5, .6, and 9, and which has in a frame, D bearings for shafts E E over which is placed an endless belt, F the frame also carrying suitable rails, 70*, for guiding the frames B under the belt. The belt F also passes beneath a frame, h, having rollers y that are in every respect like the rollers g and their supports in the oiling apparatusthat is to say, the frames h? slide on posts '6 and are under pressure of springs j so that'the belt F",revolving in the direction of the curved arrow, which is shown in Fig. 4, will carry along the frames B B, which are placed on the rails W, and will cause the spindles A A of said frames to revolve by their contact with the rails and belt.

The frame D carries beneath the rollers g" the knives G G. (See Figs. 6 and 9.) These are vertical blades that are placed beneath the ends of the spindles at the proper distances apart, and whose lower ends rest on rubber cushions p, or analogous elastic supports. I prefer to have three blades G G on each side, as indicated in Fig. 6, so that the cutter on each side will practically be sectional, and

will yield to whatever undulating motion through the inequalities of machinery and the setting of spindles may be necessary for the purpose of performing a proper cutting operation; The lower parts of the blades Gare set in pocketsq, which are indicated in Fig. 9, and which may be vertically adj ustable on the frame D". While the spindles A are above these cutters their ends are between vertical cheek-pieces r T, which are attached to screw-spindles H, as shown in Fig. 9, and which prevent the frames B from jumping the tracks while the knives are operating.

As the frames B, with the spindles A, that carry the capsules 0 at their ,ends, are passed beneath the belt F over the rails the capsules will be brought in contact with the knives G G, and will be cut at the places where these knives are located to their proper lengths, the spindles revolving by contact with the belt and rails, or either, while they pass over the knives.

The incisions for giving the capsules the p roper length havingthus been produced, it only remains to detach them from thespindles. To this end the apparatus shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13 is employed. The same consists of a frame, I, carrying a crank-shaft, J, to which a rotary motion is imparted by suitable means, and which shaft connects by links 3 with reciprocating sliding rods L, that carry hooks t at their free ends, said hooks being forked, as appears more clearly from Fig. 12: The same shaft J may move one or more rods L and hooks t. On the frame I is also supported, for every set of hooks 25, an upright ledge, a, which has its upper edge notched, as appears more clearly from Fig. 13, each notch corresponding, as to depth and distance from the others, to the position of one of the spindles A in the frame B. Above this ledge a is supported on posts o a sliding plate, 10, having in its lower edge notches to correspond with those of the ledge a. The posts 11 are united to a cross-piece, x, which connects by a rod,

same time the rod a of said frame 13 which is nearest the hooks t is placed under said hooks while they are nearest the plate 20, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 11'. The treadle M is now depressed, so as to bring the plate w down upon the spindles A A back of the cap sules,"and the shaft J revolving, the hooks i draw the frame B toward the shaft J, allowing the plates at and w, by their close contact with the spindles A, to strip the capsules off the spindles at the ends of the latter, which were gripped between the plates at and w. The treadle M is now let go, the frame B reversed, so as to get the other ends of the spindles A between said gripping-plates, and the operation performed as before.

Inn

The action of the machine is practically instantaneous, and the capsules will all be stripped ofi the frame without any danger of breaking or spoiling them.

1. In a capsule-machine, the spindle-carrying frame B, having parallel rods a a, combined with the swiveled spindles A A, that are hung in said rods, substantially as described.

2. In a capsule-machine, the spindle-carrying frame 13, having parallel rods a a, combined with the swiveled spindles AA, that are hung in said rods, and that are provided with the pulley enlargements d, substantially as de scribed.

3. In a capsule-machine, the spindle-carrying frame 13, having parallel rods a a, combined with the swiveled spindles AA,that are hung in said rods, and that are provided with the pulley enlargements d, having circumferential grooves for guiding purposes, as speci- 4. The combination of the endless belt F with the platforms Z, guide-rails 7c, and pressure-rollers g, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of 'the endless belt F with the rollers g, springs j, platforms Z, springs n, and rail or rails 70, all arranged substantially as described, for oiling the ends of spindles A A, that are-swivcled in frames B, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the belt F and rail or rails 70 with the cushioned knives G G, for use on frames B, having swivcled spindles A, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the belt F and rail or rails 7a with the adjustable cheek-pieces r r and with the cushioned knives G G, substantially as described.

8. In a capsulecutting machine, the knives G G, made sectional, substantially as herein shown and described.

9. The combination of the belt F with the rollers 9, adjustable roller-frame If, rail or rails 70, sectional cushioned knives G G, and adjustable cheek-pieces r, for use on frames 13, carrying swiveled spindles AA, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

10. The combination of the hook t, and means, substantially as described, for reciprocating it, with the grippingplatesu and w, and means, substantially as described, for bringing them together, and with the frame B, having the spindles AA, substantially as specified.

GUSTAV orro.

Witnesses:

O. G. M. THOMAS, Gusmv SOHNEPPI J. 

